My kid with severe ADHD chose to prepare intensely for the ACT, which cost a non-negligible amount of money, since with his disability he needed a one-on-one tutor, and I believe that thanks to this and his academically strong profile, he was offered significant merit aid at most of his choices. He was also offered a spot in an academically-rigorous program that surely would not have picked him had he not submitted his ACT and AP scores.

We are also Asian, no hooks, no athletics, and we did not want to risk a test-optional candidacy in that context, before the Supreme Court decision. Now... who knows. Word to the wise - old habits die hard. It will take more than a SC decision to make the common Admissions Officer mortal (usually a young graduate from the same college, the kind that couldn't get a job elsewhere) conceive that Asians don't need higher scores than other students to get in.

I know there are plenty of bright kids who get stellar scores with minimal self-preparation. But if your child has trouble, and you think for some reason that the score can make a difference, as it did for us, then you really need to pay for a reputable private tutor. The group sessions that "guarantee points or your money back" are by definition not the right ones - otherwise they wouldn't need to sell themselves like this.

Anonymous wrote:DD has a weighted GPA of 4.5 at a W school, strong extracurriculars, and has had disappointing results on practice SATs and ACTs. 1000 and 24 respectively. It’s just not her strength. She won’t be sending scores and we’re not wasting time with lots of prep because her scores will never be her selling point.

Sounds like my DD. My husband is insisting on prep prep and more prep. Her diagnostic ACT was a 20. First round of in person (NOT CHEAP) 3 mo prep got her to 26. My husband signed her up for ANOTHER prep class that guaranteed 4 more points or your money back. I think it’s a complete waste. I’m pretty sure we’ll be getting our money back. I don’t see the point of pushing it so much! But he’s insistent, my DD is willing to do it, so here we are.
It’s just a freaking test.

In many of the good schools, the percentage of kids admitted who have submitted standardized test scores is higher than kids who have not. I guess not submitting scores is an indicator that the scores were not good.

Well, not we’ll.

Take it if you think it will help. If you’re sure it would hurt, we’ll then take advantage of test optional.

DD has a weighted GPA of 4.5 at a W school, strong extracurriculars, and has had disappointing results on practice SATs and ACTs. 1000 and 24 respectively. It’s just not her strength. She won’t be sending scores and we’re not wasting time with lots of prep because her scores will never be her selling point.

My son. He has ADHD and is an ok student but horrific test taker. We are not looking at highly selective colleges, though. I'd be perfectly happy with two years at Montgomery College and then Maryland or Towson. If he goes straight to college, we are looking at smaller, less selective colleges that have good study skill supports in place.

yes she should skip

If your Dd is happy with 4-6 schools where her GPA is solidly in the top 25% of admitted students and she can complete her application before Thanksgiving, then I think her chance of getting into one of those schools as a test optional student is good.

I would be reluctant to send a “terrible test taker” to college without finding out the reason for the terrible test-taking —- anxiety, depression, adhd, learning disability - I would want to discover and accommodate these before starting college. Many, many college classes consist of only test grades and often as few as 2 - a midterm and a final. That is not great for a “terrible test taker”.

I would say take it on MCPS test day because you never know and there is no harm in taking it. My similar kid decided not to take it again and go test optional.

I think MCPS pays for at least one test? Maybe two. Free is a pretty good price and if you don't care about the results then no harm no foul

Given how many schools are test optional, I know you know the answer to this question.

But what validation are you seeking about the choice you and your child are making regarding these tests and why do you need it from an anonymous forum?

Yep. Did that.

The Ivy folks will clutch their pearls but we were not striving for an Ivy.

OP here and that was meant as a ? not !

DD is a terrible test taker but strong student with great grades. She plans to apply test optional. So why bother prepping and taking the tests at all? What am I missing? She’d rather put her energies elsewhere.